Football

Golden Eagles to face Wisconsin Badgers early in 2013 football season

Jul 25, 2012

Coming up Roses: Tech will now be facing
five of the last six Rose Bowl participants

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The legacy of Tennessee Tech's football team
taking on top-notch Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents will
continue in 2013 as coach Watson Brown's Golden Eagles have an
early September date at Big 10 conference foe Wisconsin.

The Golden Eagles will venture to Madison, Wis., for a Sept. 7
contest against the Badgers in 80,321-seat Camp Randall Stadium.
The starting time has not been announced.

A year ago, the Badgers finished the regular season with a 10-2
record including a 7-0 record at home. UW went on to defeat
Michigan State, 42-39, in the Big 10 championship game, sending the
Badgers to the 2012 Rose Bowl. Wisconsin dropped a thrilling, 45-38
contest in a record-setting game to Oregon on Jan. 2, finishing
with an 11-3 overall record. Wisconsin was ranked 10th/11th in the
final national polls and will be firmly planted in the Top 25 in
every preseason poll heading into the 2012 campaign.

"We're excited to announce this game against Wisconsin and give
our young men another opportunity to play against an FBS opponent,"
Brown said. "Each game we've played against that level of
competition has been a learning experience. It has given our
players a chance to face the very best competition we can face, and
it gives each player memories they will take with them for the rest
of their lives.

"These games are also very important financially for our football
program and the Tennessee Tech Athletic Department," Brown
said.

It wil mark the 17th consecutive year that Tech has ventured up
a level to face an FBS opponent and the 10th FBS challenge in
Watson Brown's six seasons as head coach. Tech played at Iowa last
year and will visit Oregon this September. Brown's teams at Tech
have also played at Auburn, Western Michigan, Louisville, Kansas
State, Georgia and Arkansas since 2007.

The game also means the Golden Eagles will face the last four Rose
Bowl participants (and five of the last six), including TCU, Oregon
and Wisconsin.

"We are delighted to announce this game and add it to our 2013
schedule," said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. "It has
become a tradition for Tennessee Tech football to play these games
against FBS opponents, and the game against Wisconsin will continue
that tradition. The list of teams we've played under Watson Brown
is impressive, including some of the very best FBS teams in the
nation every year from the top conferences in the country.

"It's an experience that our players and our fans always enjoy,"
Wilson added. "Whether it's Auburn, Georgia, Iowa, Oregon or
Wisconsin playing this caliber of opponent provides the team with a
tremendous challenge and gives them some lasting memories, and it
is also an important aspect of our financial picture."

Wisconsin announced its complete 2013 schedule Wednesday, opening
the year at home with games against Massachusetts and Tennessee
Tech, before heading to Arizona State.

Tech fans who follow the Golden Eagles will also be treated to
one of the premier marching bands performances in the nation,
including the famous "fifth quarter" following the game. Nowhere
except Camp Randall Stadium will 30,000-40,000 die-hard fans stay
and stay and stay -- for as long as 50 minutes after the game -- to
watch, sing, dance and enjoy the excitement of this entertaining
Wisconsin football tradition.

Tickets will be available for the game through the Tennessee Tech
Athletics Ticket Office. Details will be announced later.